Today's News

Archie Parnell’s congressional campaign imploded Tuesday as his staff, major supporters and Democratic Party leaders deserted his run after reports that he physically abused his then-wife 40 years ago.

Parnell, who lost a close 5th District special election to Republican Ralph Norman last June, did not deny the abuse, which surfaced in documents from his 1974 divorce.

He called his long-ago actions “inexcusable, wrong and downright embarrassing,” but he refused to withdraw from the race.

The graduation section in Wednesday’s paper misstated the date of the Lancaster County School District’s adult education graduation ceremony and the number of grads getting diplomas. The ceremony is today, May 23, at 6 p.m. at the Barr Street Learning Center’s multi-purpose room. Thirty-five adult ed students will graduate.

All three Buford schools will have an increased law-enforcement presence starting Wednesday because of a rumor circulating that someone has threatened a violent attack.

School officials do not believe that the rumor is credible, but are taking necessary precautions by adding more deputies at the schools.

“What we had is someone allegedly threatened to shoot up the school,” said Bryan Vaughn, Lancaster County School District safety director. “The school resource officer [at Buford High School] spent the entire day tracking it down.

The May 10 Kershaw murder was a drug deal gone bad, authorities alleged Friday, announcing the arrest of the woman who was wounded in the double shooting.
Jody Linn Holt, 30, of Kershaw, was arrested at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and unlawful neglect of a child.

It 1823, it cost $8,000 to build the Lancaster County Jail on West Gay Street.
Now, 195 years later, it has cost 100 times that amount to breathe life back into it.
With layers of stucco gone, the jail’s exposed original hand-hewn stonework exterior is nothing short of stunning.
“I just love it,” said Melody Craig, chair of the county historical commission. “I don’t think anybody thought it was going to look that good.”
The multi-year, $800,000 restoration project is set to wrap up June 30.